Sunday, 30 October 2011

Are you ready for tonight's Trick or Treaters? I've a pumpkin bucket full of sweetie eyeballs ready just in case we get any callers. I expect my Grandsons will be out Trick or Treating, but they don't live close to me, so I won't get to see them myself.

This is the card I made and sent to them, I hope they liked it.

I used stamps from a few different manufacturers to create the scene. First off I used a spiders web stamp from Sparkle n Sprinkle on the basecard to make a background. I then used the haunted house, bats and gravestones from a set by Reflections and finally the funky skeleton was a $1 dollar stamp I picked up at a Jo-Ann's store in Florida.

To create the night sky I used Distress Inks in Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire and added yellow Spica Glitter pen on the windows and the wording on the gravestones so they glow eeriely in the dark.

It was such a fun card to create, I don't usually make many Halloween cards and this is the only one for this year.

Friday, 28 October 2011

One more Christmas card to add to my stock with this one, although my stock isn't growing anywhere near fast enough if I'm going to be ready in time !

I used the theme from last week's challenge on the Craftbubble Craft Mad and Loving It group which was 'Blue Christmas'.

The image is by Crafty Individuals and I stamped it using Memento Paris Dusk ink. The poinsettias and fronds were cut using Marianne's dies and the leaves with a Martha Stewart holly punch. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley. The background paper was a scrap I found in my stash and I added touches of Stardust Stickles to stars, moon and around the sentiment layer.

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Today's project is my DT card for this week's challenge on Cute Card Thursday. It's also the card I've made for my Nephew's forthcoming birthday. There's a sketch to follow this week and the prize is sponsored by Kraftin Kimme Stamps.

I picked up the cute large and mini 'Max' stamps from Sparkle n Sprinkle when I visited recently. He's such a great image and just right for a male card.

All the Maxes are coloured with Promarkers and I added Glossy Accents to the glass and olive on the larger image. I created the Happy Birthday strip using some plain cardstock which I stamped using Memento Cottage Ivy ink. The image and green layer were cut using a set of nestie dies.

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

The image I used for my DT project is this really sweet bridal couple from DDS - aren't they cute? I've created a pretty tag for adding to a wedding gift.

I've coloured the image with ProMarkers before cutting out using a plain circle nestie. The base of the tag is cut from SU! Baja Breeze cardstock using a nestie die.

The flowers were created using a set of Magnolia Doo Hickey dies with smaller punched flowers added to the centres. The sparkly centre beads were created by adding a spot of Crystal Stickles underneath the clear beads. The green sprays either side were cut using a Marianne's die.

Lots of diecutting on my tag, can you tell I've missed my Cuttlebug and dies while I was away ? hee...hee.... !

Monday, 24 October 2011

Happy Monday morning folks, don't know about you but the weather here in Cornwall is truly dreadful, we have torrential rain and high winds forecast to last all day - oh joy !

Still, it gives me an excuse to stay indoors and craft, which is always a bonus, and I have a couple of crafty pals coming round to play this afternoon.

Today's project fits into two of this week's challenges, Simply Less is More want us to use Polka Dots and the Sunday Theme over on Craftbubble's 'Craft Mad and Loving It' group is Sewing. It's a triple whammy too as it's a birthday card for a family member - result !

The dotty paper was a magazine freebie and I cut the layer out using a nestie die. The lovely sewing images are by Stamping Up! which I stamped on to cream card using Memento Rich Cocoa ink before cutting out. I love the tapemeasure image and I added gold Spica Glitter Pen covered in Glossy Accents on the end to create the impression of a metallic tip. The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and I added just a touch of pink Spica Glitter Pen to the tiny butterfly.

The dotty layer and sentiment were distressed a little using Antique Linen Distress Ink and I coloured the thread on the spool using Copics (although it might actually be a little too subtle as you can't tell it is coloured in the piccie !!). The sewing machine was attached using PinFlair glue to raise it up, then Glossy Accents added to give it 'substance'.

It may be a tad too busy for a LIM card, but I'm struggling to get back into my creative zone since returning from holiday !

Thanks for swinging by today, hope you have a great day whatever you have planned.

Saturday, 22 October 2011

I put this card together really quickly to get it submitted in time for last week's challenge on the Craftbubble 'Craft Mad and Loving It' group. The stamps I used came from the October monthly Myka Jelina stamp kit from Queen Kat Designs which was waiting for me when I got home from my vacation.

I do like to use the accessory stamps from the kits to creaet something a bit different, although the main images are always so lovely. This month's kit is ideal for Halloween cards.

Thursday, 20 October 2011

Well, that's the theme for this week's challenge over on Cute Card Thursday - we want to see your sorry/apology cards. The sponsor for this week's prize is Meljen's Designs. Do check out the digi designs site for some cute images or the Whimsy Stamps Store if you prefer rubber stamps.

This is my second post today, so if you'd like to see the earlier project, just scroll down and check it out.

For my DT card I chose this sweet little stamp from Sugar Nellie. The Designer is Diane Duda but I'm not entirely sure that it is still in production. She was one of the stamps I received when I won some Sugar Nellie Candy quite a while ago. I know I haven't used her in absolutely ages and for some reason I thought she was perfect for a 'Sorry' card, she's just so sweet.

I coloured the image with Copics, cut it out with a deckle edge nestie then attached it over a layer of patterned paper cut using a slightly larger die from the same set. The base card is a plain C6 and I kept the design clean and simple to fit comfortably on the small card.

The sentiment I created on my computer as I wanted to say "sorry I missed your big day" which could be appropriate for many occasions, not just a missed birthday. I don't have a stamp with that exact sentiment, so created one myself. After printing it I cut it out using a die from a Nellie's Multiframes set and attached using PinFlair Glue to lift it from the background a little. Finally I added a bow tied from a length of pretty ribbon I had in my stash, plus a few pearly flowers which I confess I recycled from a card I received some time ago !

All the fabulous creations from the CCT Design Team are on display on the blog, why not check them out for inspiration and enter a card yourself this week? It would be great to have you join in.

Finally, a couple more florida pics for you. We saw some really spectacular sunsets during our stay, the first shot was taken as we drove 'home' one evening, the other two were taken from the same spot outside the home our friends were renting, one using a flash and the other not. I do quite like what I call 'the arty shot' taken with the flash, I like the effect - what do you think? Which do you like best?

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

I just can't believe that my Son is 40 years old, where did the time go ? I'm sure I'll hear the groan from here when he opens his card - Motherrrrr.... ! Not sure it will be out on display in his house though !!!

Planning the design for his card I was originally thinking masculine (sporty. techie etc) then when I looked through this cute monster stamp set, I just knew I wanted to use a couple of them for his card. This just reminds me so much of when he was little, and I think the teeny monster is such a cutie.

The stamp set is by Recollections - Michaels Stores' own brand in the USA. I coloured the image with Promarkers and added touches of Glossy Accents to his boots and all the monters' eyeballs for dimension.

It's a real CAS style as he's not fond of 'fussy stuff'' - just punched the bottom edge of the image layer with an EK Success border punch, then layered it over a piece of 'Not Quite Navy' SU! cardstock with the bottom edge punched to match.

Hope today's creation made you smile - if so, that makes me happy !!!

As promised, here are a couple more of my Florida piccies. We seemed to be on the direct flightpath of the hot air balloon rides as most mornings around 6.30 - 7am there was at least one balloon passing by. I just had to take a few piccies as it was all so serene, they were close enough that we could hear the roar of the jets as they inflated the balloons to rise above the trees but apart from that, there was hardly a sound. Lovely to observe from the ground, but I'm afraid I am not at all tempted to take a ride up there myself ! There'll be a few more piccies later.

This is my second post for today, please scroll down to see the first one.

Here's my entry for the challenge this week on Simply Less is More which has the theme 'Cocktail'.

For my card I used one of the $1 mini sets of stamps by Inkadinkado which I picked up in Florida and couldn't have been more perfect for this theme. I'm so glad I bought it !

Stamped in black Versafine ink with parts coloured using Copics and Spica Glitter Pen, and the 'slice' stamped and cut out before attaching using Pinflair Glue to give it just a little dimension. I love the effect of the zingy lime shades against the black ink.

I plan to share a few pix from my Florida vacation, just adding one or two at a time to the bottom of other posts, so today's is the view from the back yard on our last morning there, just after sunrise.

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

I've dug my mojo out of the corner, dusted off the cobwebs and hit the table of craftiness - yes, I'm home and reunited with my stash. I can't wait to get busy once more with my DT work, creating cards I need to make for friends and family for the coming weeks and looking forward to being able to enter a few challenges once again.

I just couldn't resist this cute penguin stamp when I saw him during a visit to Sparkle n Sprinkle in Ruskin, Florida and it was really awesome to see them make my actual stamp right in front of my eyes ! I kind of knew what the process was for producing rubber stamps, but it was great to see all the processes IRL.

I really need to get busy increasing the number of Christmas cards I've made so far for this year as I'm late starting, so this cute little chap was just perfect for the theme and adds one more to my stock.

He's coloured of course with Promarkers, cut out using a nestie and added over a layer of My Minds Eye DP. There's Stardust Stickles around the edges of the image layer and as 'snow' on the ground. I also added some to the spots on his scarf and his snowflake to give them some sparkle. The sentiment is from a set by Sentiments 4 You, designed especially to be punched out using a Stamping Up! oval punch. I don't have this particular punch so cut it out using a scalloped oval nestie. I was able to colour the sentiment on my computer to match the DP background which was an added bonus. The tree was cut using a Marianne's die with some dots of red Stickles so that it matches the trees on the DP. As a finishing touch, I added Glossy Accents to his hat, feet and beak, I think you can just see the shine from the glossy parts in the pic.

Thanks for dropping by today, I hope you'll have a go at this week's challenge, I'd love to see your interpretation of this theme.

Monday, 17 October 2011

I did promise you a peek at the new stash I acquired during my Florida vacation - well, with all the Michaels and JoAnn's stores in the Orlando area, the fabulous Violettes in Lakeland and Sparkle n Sprinkle in Ruskin, how could I resist ?

A selection of $1 stamps found at Michaels and JoAnn's - and I even had discount coupons of 40% to 50% off for most of them too.... I was practically being paid to take them away !

This litle selection is from Michaels with Glitter and Embossing powder from S n S tucked in at the top.

Inkadinkado and Recollections stamp sets from Michaels, some wood mounted stamps from ~Violettes (I had to remove a couple of the large wooden blocks as they were just too heavy for my luggage). I just love the knitting chickies stamp and just had to find room for the wooden block on this one. The butterfly spellbinder dies and matching stamps were from S n S and the fabulous bare tree and accessories are by Judith and were from Violettes.

As seen in my previous post, I did purchase some yarn to knit my blankie and I also acquired a loom as I fancy having a go at loom knitting.

That's the extent of my crafty indulgence this trip - I did also pick up a couple of pads of background paper, but haven't got around to photographing those yet.

Sunday, 16 October 2011

Sorry for being MIA for much of the past 5 weeks, as you may have guessed, I've been away on a lovely long vacation in Florida, with hardly any internet access - Yikes !!

I don't think I've ever gone so long without doing some cardmaking, but fear not, I did do some crafting... I can't rest with idle hands, so had to find a little alternate crafting to be getting on with. So I knitted a blanket (which was really useful on the flight home I can tell you as they seem to keep the atmosphere in aircraft at a much lower temperature these days - must be to save fuel !) and finished off a cardigan I had just started before leaving home. The cardi is knitted from that clever yarn which works it's way into stripes as you knit. In fact, I saw the yarn first and knew I wanted to make something with it, and found this pattern.

They were fun to make, but I have missed my craft stash so much. I'm hoping to get my Mojo polished up and start creating tomorrow. Watch this space....,.

BTW I did do a little (?) craft shopping while across the pond, I'll share piccies of my new goodies tomorrow.

Thursday, 6 October 2011

Just a quick update as to what I've been up to since my last post. I've seen Shamu and other Killer Whales, Dolphins the Space Shuttle launch pads and Apollo 13, Alligators, Turtles and got caught out in the St John's River on an airboat in the eye of a severe tropical storm - was drenched to the skin and quite scared with the lightening flashing all around while I was on water !!

But one of the highest highlights just has to be eating Dirt Pie at the Santa Fe Steakhouse. Yes, those are worms, but of the Gummy type :o) The 'Dirt' was crushed Oreo Cookies but it looked like real dirt/soil - heee...heee...The mud was chocolate sauce and it was delish though I do have to say.

Hope to be back with more pix later - although we are now down to our last few days of this wonderful vacation. I will be happy to be reunited with my stash and able to get crafting again, but I will miss the lovely warm temperatures and the fabulous sunshine here in Florida.

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All projects published on my blog are copyright to me - I am happy to share my designs here in the hope that they may inspire you to develop your own ideas. However please respect my right not to have my designs copied or "lifted" or entered for publication, competitions, etc. Direct copying of any design shown on this blog is an infringement of copyright.